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Said Melanchthon： 〃There are indeed extraordinary spirits in these men； but
what spirits？ 。 。 。 On the one hand； let us beware of quenching the Spirit
of God； and on the other； of being led astray by the spirit of
Satan。〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 7。
The fruit of the new teaching soon became apparent。 The people were led to
neglect the Bible or to cast it wholly aside。 The schools were thrown into
confusion。 Students； spurning all restraint； abandoned their studies and
withdrew from the university。 The men who thought themselves competent to
revive and control the work of the Reformation succeeded only in bringing it
to the verge of ruin。 The Romanists now regained their confidence and
exclaimed exultingly： 〃One last struggle； and all will be ours。〃Ibid。； b。
9； ch。 7。
Luther at the Wartburg； hearing of what had occurred； said with deep
concern： 〃I always expected that Satan would send us this plague。〃Ibid。；
b。 9； ch。 7。 He perceived the true character of those pretended prophets and
saw the danger that threatened the cause of truth。 The opposition of the
pope and the emperor had not caused him so great perplexity and distress as
he now experienced。 From the professed friends of the Reformation had risen
its worst enemies。 The very truths which had brought him so great joy and
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consolation were being employed to stir up strife and create confusion in
the church。
In the work of reform； Luther had been urged forward by the Spirit of God；
and had been carried beyond himself。 He had not purposed to take such
positions as he did； or to make so radical changes。 He had been but the
instrument in the hand of Infinite Power。 Yet he often trembled for the
result of his work。 He had once said： 〃If I knew that my doctrine injured
one man； one single man； however lowly and obscure；which it cannot； for it
is the gospel itself； I would rather die ten times than not retract
it。〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 7。
And now Wittenberg itself； the very center of the Reformation； was fast
falling under the power of fanaticism and lawlessness。 This terrible
condition had not resulted from the teachings of Luther； but throughout
Germany his enemies were charging it upon him。 In bitterness of soul he
sometimes asked： 〃Can such； then； be the end of this great work of the
Reformation？〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 7。 Again； as he wrestled with God in prayer；
peace flowed into his heart。 〃The work is not mine； but Thine own；〃 he said；
〃Thou wilt not suffer it to be corrupted by superstition or fanaticism。〃 But
the thought of remaining longer from the conflict in such a crisis； became
insupportable。 He determined to return to Wittenberg。
Without delay he set out on his perilous journey。 He was under the ban of
the empire。 Enemies were at liberty to take his life； friends were forbidden
to aid or shelter him。 The imperial government was adopting the most
stringent measures against his adherents。 But he saw that the work of the
gospel was imperiled； and in the name of the Lord he went out fearlessly to
battle for the truth。
In a letter to the elector； after stating his purpose to leave the Wartburg；
Luther said： 〃Be it known to your highness that I am going to Wittenberg
under a protection far higher than that of princes and electors。 I think not
of soliciting your highness's support； and far from desiring your
protection；
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I would rather protect you myself。 If I knew that your highness could or
would protect me； I would not go to Wittenberg at all。 There is no sword
that can further this cause。 God alone must do everything； without the help
or concurrence of man。 He who has the greatest faith is he who is most able
to protect。〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 8。
In a second letter； written on the way to Wittenberg； Luther added： 〃I am
ready to incur the displeasure of your highness and the anger of the whole
world。 Are not the Wittenbergers my sheep？ Has not God entrusted them to me？
And ought I not； if necessary； to expose myself to death for their sakes？
Besides； I fear to see a terrible outbreak in Germany； by which God will
punish our nation。〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 7。
With great caution and humility； yet with decision and firmness； he entered
upon his work。 〃By the word；〃 said he； 〃must we overthrow and destroy what
has been set up by violence。 I will not make use of force against the
superstitious and unbelieving。 。 。 。 No one must be constrained。 Liberty is
the very essence of faith。〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 8。
It was soon noised through Wittenberg that Luther had returned and that he
was to preach。 The people flocked from all directions； and the church was
filled to overflowing。 Ascending the pulpit； he with great wisdom and
gentleness instructed； exhorted； and reproved。 Touching the course of some
who had resorted to violent measures in abolishing the mass； he said：
〃The mass is a bad thing； God is opposed to it； it ought to be abolished；
and I would that throughout the whole world it were replaced by the supper
of the gospel。 But let no one be torn from it by force。 We must leave the
matter in God's hands。 His word must act； and not we。 And why so？ you will
ask。 Because I do not hold men's hearts in my hand； as the potter holds the
clay。 We have a right to speak： we have not the right to act。 Let us preach；
the rest belongs unto God。 Were I to employ force； what should I gain？
Grimace； formality； apings； human ordinances； and hypocrisy。 。 。 。 But there
would be no sincerity
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of heart； nor faith； nor charity。 Where these three are wanting； all is
wanting； and I would not give a pear stalk for such a result。 。 。 。 God does
more by His word alone than you and I and all the world by our united
strength。 God lays hold upon the heart； and when the heart is taken； all is
won。 。 。 。
〃I will preach； discuss； and write； but I will constrain none； for faith is
a voluntary act。 See what I have done。 I stood up against the pope；
indulgences； and papists； but without violence or tumult。 I put forward
God's word； I preached and wrotethis was all I did。 And yet while I was
asleep； 。 。 。 the word that I had preached overthrew popery； so that neither
prince nor emperor has done it so much harm。 And yet I did nothing； the word
alone did all。 If I had wished to appeal to force； the whole of Germany
would perhaps have been deluged with blood。 But what would have been the
result？ Ruin and desolation both to body and soul。 I therefore kept quiet；
and left the word to run through the world alone。〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 8。
Day after day； for a whole week； Luther continued to preach to eager crowds。
The word of God broke the spell of fanatical excitement。 The power of the
gospel brought back the misguided people into the way of truth。
Luther had no desire to encounter the fanatics whose course had been
productive of so great evil。 He knew them to be men of unsound judgment and
undisciplined passions； who； while claiming to be specially illuminated from
heaven； would not endure the slightest contradiction or even the kindest
reproof or counsel。 Arrogating to themselves supreme authority； they
required everyone； without a question； t